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Thu, Feb 09 2012
Bulgaria’s Black Sea hotels laying off staff mid-season – report
Nessebur, on Bulgaria's Black Sea coast, in early July 2009.
Photo: Анелия Николова
Hard on the heels of figures saying that 20 per cent of Bulgaria’s hotels have closed, a new report says that some family hotels on the southern Black Sea have shut their doors and dismissed staff, while even those that have guests are reducing the number of their employees.
Reporting from the southern Black Sea city of Bourgas, Bulgarian news agency BTA quoted hotelier Georgi Georgiev as saying that while there had not been many cases of hotels closing in mid-season, even in hotels where there were visitors, staff were being "streamlined".
At Slunchev Bryag (Sunny Beach) there were far fewer foreign tourists than in 2008, and worse, large tour operators had not started to sign agreements for summer 2010, Georgiev said.
On July 14, Roumen Draganov, head of the Institute for Analysis and Assessment of Tourism, said that about 20 per cent of the hotels in Bulgaria, including those at the seaside, had been closed and 60 per cent of beds were not booked.
Draganov said that revenue from foreign tourism in Bulgaria this year would be 25 per cent less than in 2008.
During the campaign for Bulgaria’s July 5 2009 national parliamentary elections, Boiko Borissov’s party GERB promised new legislation to put the country’s tourism industry on a sound footing.
Speaking in Veliko Turnovo on July 2, GERB chairperson Tsvetan Tsvetanov said that it was high time to adopt a serious Tourism Act that would lay the foundations for the development of the tourism sector.
At the election event, GERB and tourism associations signed a co-operation agreement. Tourism associations were promised an active role in drafting new legislation that GERB would table in Parliament, Bulgarian news agency Focus quoted Tsvetanov as saying.
Reporting from the southern Black Sea city of Bourgas, Bulgarian news agency BTA quoted hotelier Georgi Georgiev as saying that while there had not been many cases of hotels closing in mid-season, even in hotels where there were visitors, staff were being "streamlined".
At Slunchev Bryag (Sunny Beach) there were far fewer foreign tourists than in 2008, and worse, large tour operators had not started to sign agreements for summer 2010, Georgiev said.
On July 14, Roumen Draganov, head of the Institute for Analysis and Assessment of Tourism, said that about 20 per cent of the hotels in Bulgaria, including those at the seaside, had been closed and 60 per cent of beds were not booked.
Draganov said that revenue from foreign tourism in Bulgaria this year would be 25 per cent less than in 2008.
During the campaign for Bulgaria’s July 5 2009 national parliamentary elections, Boiko Borissov’s party GERB promised new legislation to put the country’s tourism industry on a sound footing.
Speaking in Veliko Turnovo on July 2, GERB chairperson Tsvetan Tsvetanov said that it was high time to adopt a serious Tourism Act that would lay the foundations for the development of the tourism sector.
At the election event, GERB and tourism associations signed a co-operation agreement. Tourism associations were promised an active role in drafting new legislation that GERB would table in Parliament, Bulgarian news agency Focus quoted Tsvetanov as saying.
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Bulgaria’s tourism market shrivels up to 30 per cent in summer 2009
As the peak season draws to an end, hoteliers and tour operators are putting the finishing touches on summer 2010 deals, when most companies will slash the number of hotels they work with but do their best to keep tourist numbers unchanged. In addition, they will seek ways to encourage early bookings through juicier offers and special extras to packages.
VIP holidaymakers
Few suspect that state residences are open for public use
Bulgarians idle away summer on foreign beaches again
The industry blamed the trend on lucrative offers available in neighbouring Turkey combined with poor infrastructure and bad service at home.
Foreign tourist numbers decline
The number of foreign tourists that visited Bulgaria from January to May 2009 is 7.6 per cent less than in the same period last year, and revenue has dropped too, according to the State Agency for Tourism.
Almost a fifth of hotels closed, tourism revenue falling
Sixty per cent of beds in Bulgaria’s hotels are not booked, according to a report on tourism, while revenue from foreign tourism will drop by a quarter – the result of fewer visitors, inefficiency, bad service and resistance to high prices.
Tourism opportunities in Bulgaria: Russian roulette
After Russia restricted casinos in part of the country on July 1, Bulgaria has a "golden opportunity to become the Las Vegas for Russian gamblers," Bulgarian daily Standart said.
Bulgaria’s tourism starts to lose price edge
The Bulgarian tourism sector has began to lose its price advantage, which was one of the key factors in luring holidaymakers, a survey has showed
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Appointments
British Council
Lyubov Kostova was appointed country manager of British Council Bulgaria effective January 1, replacing Tony Buckby, who left in October 2011 to take a similar position at British Council Greece. Kostova has been with British Council Bulgaria for 11 years, as public communications manager and, since 2008, as the head of project and partnerships department. Prior to joining the British Council, Kostova was head of international activities at the National Academy for Theatre and Cinema Arts (NATFIZ). She has a degree in Indian studies from Kliment Ohridski Sofia University.
CEZ
Stefan Apostolov is the new chief executive of CEZ Razpredelenie Bulgaria, the power transmission subsidiary of Czech energy company CEZ in the country. He replaces interim chief executive Ales Damm, who remains the chairperson of the CEZ Razpredelenie management board. Apostolov has 30 years of experience in the energy sector, joining CEZ in 2007 as director of customer service and was later appointed as head of business development. Apostolov has a master's degree in electric systems from the Belorussian National Technical University in Minsc, management diplomas from Open University London and New Bulgarian University, as well as a master's degree in business administration from Plovdiv University.
BASF Bulgaria
Valentina Dikanska is the new general manager of chemical industry giant BASF subsidiary in Bulgaria, taking over from Herbert Fisch, BASF vice president for Southeastern Europe. Dikanska, who started her career as an expert in the Finance Ministry, joined BASF Bulgaria as director of finance and administration in 2002. She becomes the first Bulgarian to hold the top management position in the company in its 40-year history on the Bulgarian market. Dikanska holds a master's degree in economics from the University for National and World Economy in Sofia.
Rompetrol Bulgaria
Alexander Albin has been appointed chief executive of fuel distributor Rompetrol Bulgaria, replacing Nichita Sorin, who left to become chief executive of Rompetrol Gaz in Romania. Albin was previously chief executive of Rompetrol Georgia. He has more than 15 years of experience in the oil and gas industry; prior to joining Romania's oil group Rompetrol in 2008 as an adviser, he oversaw operations at Atyrau refinery in Kazakhstan, owned by Rompetrol's parent company KazMunaiGaz. He previously held top management positions at two other leading Kazakh oil and gas companies.
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Paddy well said mate, watch this space though folks, we have the winter skiing to come yet and I think the signs were there last season. When oh when are the people who run these resorts gonna realise that the gravy train will soon if not already have dried up and I also agree that the Bulgarian people must somehow be made more aware of why the EU funds have stopped and why. The funding was not sent here for a sellect few to enjoy, it was for the people of BG to try improve quality of life here.
Unfortunately, you are all right. I am a Bulgarian and I will never go either to Sunny Beach or Golden Sands. They picked up my car from Golden Sands because I did not park at (their) paid parking. The beaches are overfilled and overpriced. I go abroad, wishing to be patriotic.
Sunny beach will not recover for years. The Nordic tourists have abandoned Bulgaria after that they always need to feel blown over prices, poor service, and poor security. And the fact that no improvement from year to the next. No one traveling to Bulgaria for a few cents on a beer elller two.
I myself have been in 25 countries, and in no other country I feel the greed and cupidity as in Bulgaria. In the countries where the service has been poor in the desire to improve themselves been a compensating factor.
Paddy, you'r absolutely right, with they almost "criminal" growth of the building capacity the inve4stment in infrastructure is most important; like clean and safe water for the local population as wel as guests. Roads, airport, trained staff as police etc etc. But fundings from EG and EG countries is absolute another discussion as well the way Bulgaria but also the NGO partners abroad handle this fundings, would be a nice discussion.
Fact is that hotels are empty, Committee of tourism is sleeping, touristfairs bad organised, delegations dont do their work and foreign offices closed. Combine this with the [...]
Read the full comment insckilled hotelstaff and the economic crises, the unwillingness from Bulgaria Air to fly to the black see... e voila, the perfect way to learn some lessons or....
I appreciate that construction work on the coast provides a diminishing factor to the natural beauty of the land. However, it is away from the point being discussed. The E.U Grant scheme was implemented to support, most importantly, regional and infastructural development (quite possibly unseen by the general population). I belive the Bulgarian population deserves, and needs, to be made aware why the E.U thought it necessary to withold such allocated funding. Details of the investigation as to where the funds landed previous to the above mentioned witheld funds should and could be made public. Only then corrections can be [...]
Read the full comment made and people brought to account.
too many constructions are ruining the coast....
and , being part of the EU, you should try to follow EU rules...
Well you have said what i would say.( Bulgaria needs the youth and new ideas) you have in Bulgaria everything that holiday makers need but the people in charge do not have a clue how to treat paying customers Bulgaria can be up with the leading tourist board destinations the hotels have only themselves to blame. I overheard a manager in a hotel on sunny beach say (we are fed with British Guests they do nothing but complain). Its not just the recession that keeps guests away so well said Paddy.
As touroperator I work since 1978 with Bulgaria. Its not the money what the problem but this nashe chovec and vashe, we and the others.
Service and hospitality, Honesty and respect for the foreign guest who brings their money to Bulgaria and do not take anything home then memories, are only to find at the family runned places. If you cannot stop construction work, stop the corruption, drugs and robberies who make that GUESTS feel accepted and safe. (skip this nasty word :tourists"
Myself and Girlfriend lived and worked for 6 months in Slunchev Bryag (Sunny Beach). We witnessed first hand the dire conditions that hamper the tourist industry and make conducting business there impossible. The arrogance and corruption of the people who can change the situation have brought about this decline, not the recession. The youth need more control for the commencement of change which the so called business leaders will never grant. These state protected people need to be brought to book before they ruin a potentially beautiful and prosperous Country. This requires brave leadership not produced by succesive Governments. Over [...]
Read the full comment half a billion Euro of E.U Funds being witheld is completely unacceptable.
maybe now is the right time to start thinking, of what can be improved - e.g. customer service because this makes the difference !!!